Striker Paul Taylor is making progress and is still expected to be fit for the start of next season, according to assistant manager Terry Connor. Taylor, 25, suffered a foot injury which ultimately required surgery in the September home defeat to Wolves, only his third game for the Blues following a £1.5 million switch from Peterborough.

Connor says he’s now moving in the right direction: “He’s doing very well. I saw him in the gym the other week and he was doing some Pilates. He’s down to a little boot now and he’s doing a lot more.

“I think the physio had said he should be ready for next season and that’s still the case. We’re seeing him a lot more around the place, in the gym building himself up. It’s a slow process but he’s on course to be ready for us for next season.”

The Blues assistant boss says Taylor suffering the injury so soon after moving to Portman Road would have been a tough break for an already under pressure Paul Jewell: “Absolutely, [it was a bitter blow for him], but it was a bitter blow for the player, never mind the manager.

“The player doesn’t want to come and get injured. I’m sure he would have shown glimpses of his form and what he can do but it was curtailed for him.

“All we can hope is that he makes a full recovery and is back playing again as soon as he possibly can and can carry on from where he left off.”

And when he does return in pre-season, Connor says it will be like adding a new player to the squad: “It’ll feel like [he’s the first summer signing].

"When he comes back out on the training pitch it’ll feel like we’ve got a brand new player to choose from. That’ll give everybody a lift.”